Words & Photos by Art Jefferson
Stepping foot in Kingston in some ways feels like stepping out of London. While technically situated southwest in the capital, one is immediately greeted by a mixture of architecture that could be British or even Dutch depending on where you stand. From the Kingston Bridge to artist David Mach’s ‘Out of Order’ tumbling phone box installation on Old London Road, the picturesque town has a distinct charm that is quite undeniable. There are also intersections where the historical crosses modernism. From the 1990s built Bentall Centre to the historic All Saints Church which dates back to the 12th Century, to old antique shops running parallel to trendy internet cafes, this hybrid for whatever rhyme or reason seem to comfortably coexist even aesthetically. Whilst many people may revere Kingston for its heap of shopping establishments and restaurants along the river, there is a music scene that exists here and one of the core hubs for it is definitely Ram Jam Records.
Located on Richmond Road, connected to The Grey Horse – Smok’d pub, when entering Ram Jam Records one immediately feels like the venue is a true performance space. From the various record sleeves on one wall that boast the likes of everyone ranging from Ray Charles to Nat King Cole on down to Glenn Miller, the red and black decor along with a phenomenal sound set-up creates the atmosphere that the live experience is what stands at the forefront above all else. The intimacy of Ram Jam Records also feels like nothing outside of those doors matter, at least for that duration of time, as the engulfing of the happenings that night reign supreme. Food and drink service is available with hip staff members adding an extra level of coolness to the place. The tables are aligned around the stage in some way reminiscent of the old jazz clubs of yesteryear, yet all the while maintaining a rock & roll edge. The low lit environment fosters an intriguing melting pot of seductive and slightly punchy. That tone can sway depending on who steps on stage. On any given date there may be a jazz outfit playing, a Hip-Hop collective gracing the stage, an open mic opportunity, comedy, or even a super quiz night. Ram Jam even offers a day rehearsal space. One surely gets the notion that the venue has a grass roots connection to the music community in Kingston, again with a mission of providing great entertainment.
The night of 22nd July in which UK bluesman Mississippi MacDonald took the stage at Ram Jam Records was like a marriage that completely made perfect sense. It was a homecoming of sorts. MacDonald was born in Kingston, and his live wire performance showed that the was indeed happy to be back in the place where it all started. In fact, he delivered two sets with only a 20 minute intermission in between. Backed by Phil Dearing on guitar, Elliott Boughen on bass, and Jim Kimberley on drums, the three times British Blues Awards nominee fired off track after track with cuts taken from his 2021 LP ‘Do Right, Say Right’, and more gems throughout his discography. Having recorded in the U.S. over the years, Mississippi MacDonald definitely payed homage to the birthplace of blues and the greats that emerged from its soil. There was even a cheeky number dedicated to the strength of coffee that the audience found highly entertaining. With his slide guitar technique whizzing throughout multiple songs, MacDonald’s gritty vocals and howls had a sort Mississippi Delta transatlantic crossing hybrid that felt like a true middle ground meeting. While definitely a proud Londoner, there was a concerted effort to play and stay in the tradition of the blues sound, which clearly showed his love and respect for the art form, as well as its previous practitioners. Mississippi MacDonald didn’t end the show without a dedication to blues great Howling Wolf. With some audience members dancing to the sounds, and others smiling and nodding continuously, MacDonald’s mission was complete, delivering a style of music that he has been steeped in for decades and bringing it back to his personal ground zero, Kingston.
A night of electric energy, the performance of Mississippi MacDonald inside of Ram Jam Records was further evidence of how necessary it is for not only venues to exist in the capital, but also the need for quality venues to reside. Too often artists are met with establishments that suffer from poor sound and lighting, a lack of visual aesthetics, and more. If attending Ram Jam’s Saturday night proved one thing, it was that no matter the size of the space, it can be created in a way that gives attendees and the performing artists a true, engaging experience. That’s what Mississippi MacDonald provided on the night of the 22nd. Ironically it rained that day as well as train strikes throughout London. Yet Ram Jam Records was a place of escapism, temporarily muting the outside chaos.
https://www.ramjamrecords.co.uk/
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Mississippi MacDonald YouTube Channel